Can a common virus similar to ones that cause colds and pinkeye be responsible for making you fat?
Some scientists believe that infection with human adenovirus-36 may be a contributing factor.
Researchers from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center originally demonstrated that the virus could cause animals to become fatter.
Then The Scientists Turned To Humans
They found that when human stem cells were exposed to this virus, the stem cells turned into fat cells and stored fat, too.
They also identified a gene in the virus that seems to cause this obesity effect. Which could lead to the development of a medication or vaccine to battle viral obesity.
An earlier study showed that 30% of obese people had been infected with adenovirus-36 at some point. Only 11% of thin people had.
This new study shows that the virus can actually cause fat to accumulate in human cells.
The Researchers Couldn’t Ethically Infect Humans With This Virus
So they took adult stem cells from the fatty tissue of liposuction patients. Half of these stem cells were exposed to the virus.
About a week later, most of the virus-infected stem cells turned into fat cells and accumulated fat. Most of the non-infected cells didn’t.
The scientists don’t know exactly how this virus may cause obesity. They also don’t know how long the virus stays in the human body or how long the obesity effect lasts.
In animal studies, the infected animals remained obese up to 6 months after their infection went away.
Here’s My Question: How Long Has This Virus Been Around?
Because if it’s longer than a couple of decades, it doesn’t make sense to blame the obesity epidemic on a virus.
Can it be a contributing factor?
Sure, why not. So is lack of sleep.
But why do other cultures suddenly become fat when they adopt lifestyles similar to ours? Do they suddenly become infected with this virus?
If it’s the same virus that caused animals to become fat, then why don’t people lose their obesity within 6 months of the virus going away just like the animals did?
The Numbers In This Study Don’t Explain An Epidemic
Only 30% of obese people had been infected with this virus. That means 70% of obese people, the majority, weren’t infected. But they’re still overweight.
Obviously, you should always go to your doctor to rule out medical problems as a cause for obesity. Maybe this virus will become one more.
But I think we’re all grasping for a reason to overlook the main cause of obesity – our lifestyles.
I don’t believe you have to torture yourself to lose weight. But you do have to take responsibility for the actions that caused you to gain weight and change them.
In most cases, the answer is simple: eat less.
It’s the solution few people want to face.
